Paint applicator



0d. 6, 1959 J. J. WHALEN PAINT APPLICATQR 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct. 30, 1957 Iilixrv l I INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1959 J. J. WHALEN 2,907,051

PAINT APPLICATOR Filed Oct. 50, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5

FIG. 4

INVENTOR.

ATT RNEY United States Patent O 2,907,061 PAINT APPLICATOR Joseph J. Whalen,,0klal1oma City, Okla.

Application October 30, 1957, Serial No. 693,311

7 Claims. (Cl. 15-1'14) The present invention relates 'to paint brushesand more particularly to a device for painting a surface which is contiguous to another surface on which paint is not, desired.

Many situations arise in interiordecoratingwherein one surface -to be painted lies contiguous to another surface where paint is not desired or in which a paint of a different color is to be applied. Such situations arise in a painting of a wall at its juncture with the ceiling; the painting ofinterior trims such as casings, basev mouldings, etc., and in two-tone painting where it is desired to prevent the paint of one color overlapping .that of the adjacent tone.

The prior art reveals a number of guides or guards adapted to hold a'paint brush and prevent the bristles thereof contacting the contiguous surface. None of these 'devices, so far as I know, has proved entirely satisfactory,

particularly when used by inexperienced painters. Many home owners, for example, elect to do their own redecorating and experience some difficulty in keeping paint off of the surface adjacent to that being painted.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a paint applicator which may be used by an unskilled person to quickly and accurately paint adjacent surfaces Without painting an adjacent surface where paint is not desired.

The device of the present invention is equally satisfactory to professional painters by enabling them to more rapidly achieve the desired results without sacrifice in the workmanship and quality thereof.

' Another object of the present invention is to provide a device in which paint brushes are secured thereto and incorporate guard means for preventing the bristles of the brushes contacting a surface not to be painted.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this class in which the brushes may be loaded with paint without getting the latter on the guard portion of .of .a painting applicator having a laterally off-set handle to facilitate manual operation of the devicein painting a wall surface perpendicular toan adjacent surface.

Yet another object is the provisionof a device of this class in which a guidingsurface 'is provided along one side thereof for contacting a surface perpendicular with respect to the surface it is desired to paint.

- .Still another object of this invention is to provide a device of this class in which the only wearing parts comprises brushes anda .paint roller which may be .readily and easily replaced.

- A still further object ofthis invention is to provide a 2,907,061 Patented Oct. 6, 1959 ice 2 paint applicator of this nature which is simple in construction and therefore may be manufactured and sold at a relatively low cost.

An additional object is to provide an article of this class in which the painting brushes and rollers thereof may be easily cleaned for changing colors or when the painting is complete.

The present invention accomplishes these and other objects by providing a substantially rectangular body having a handle projecting laterally of one longitudinal side edge of the body in off-set relation with respect to the plane of the body- The plane of that side of the body opposite the handle being adapted to contact a wall surface for disposing the handle in spaced relation with respectto the wall being contacted. Brush-holding sections are defined at each respective end of the body on that side opposite the handle by recesses.

Brushes are connected to the longitudinal side edge of each brush-holding section so that the bristles of the brushes contact and project beyond the free edge of the brush-holding sections into the plane defined by thesurface contacting side of the body forpainting a surface perpendicular to that surface being contacted by the guide surface of the body.

A painting roller is journaled on an axis. perpendicular with respect-to the guide surface of the-body, medially its'ends for co-operating withv the brushes and applying a single swath of paint to the surface.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description when taken inconjunctionl with the accompanying two sheets of drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device.

Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the device asseen in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-section view taken substantially along line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the'device in operative position.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in those figures of the drawings'in which they occur.

- In the drawings: 1

The reference numeral 10 indicates the devicc,-as a whole, comprising a relatively thin body portion 12 having a substantially planar rectangular central portion and formed of suitable material, such as plastic, which will not stain or mark a painted surface. A recess 14 is formed in one longitudinal side of the body thus defining a pairof rectangular brush-holding portions or sections 16 and 18 along one edge of the body adjacent itsrespective ends. An inverted substantially U-shaped handle 20, as seen in Fig. 2, has the legs thereof" integrally joined to the edge of the body opposite the respective brush-holding sections 16 and 18. The handle 20, the end portions 22 and 7240f the body and the respective brush-holding sections 16 and 18 are bent or formed to lie in a common plane angularly disposed with respect to the plane of the central portion 26 of the body (Figs.

1, 4 and 5). The handle 20 is thus disposed in offset relation with respect to the body for the reasons which will presently be apparent. Thus, one side of the central portion 26 of the body forms a plane for contacting a flat surface suchas a wall or the like while disposing the handle 20 and the body end portions 22 and 24 in spaced relation therewith.-

Each of the brush-holding sections 16 and 18' has a longitudinally extending beveled surface 28 lying in the plane common to the surface contacting plane of the body section26 so that these beveled surfaces 28 similarly contact a surface simultaneously with the body .the two meeting surfaces.

portion 26. These beveled surfaces 28 converge toward the free longitudinal edge of each respective brush-holding section (Fig. 3). Each of the brush-holding sections 16 and 1,8 are further provided with a longitudinal extending right angular groove or notch 29 forming a shoulder 30 adjacent the beveled surface 28 and extendingtoward the free longitudinal edge of the respective brush-holding section and forming a longitudinal edge contact 32 lying in the plane of the beveled surfaces 28 (Fig. 3).

Paint brush means 34 is longitudinally secured to the side of each brush-holding section 16 and 18 opposite the beveled guide surface 28'. The brush means 34 comprises a substantially rectangular base or body portion 38 to which is secured, in a conventional manner, a series of tufts or bristles 40 which extend laterally of the'brush base 38 along one longitudinal side thereof. The base 38 is secured to the respective brush-holding section by screws 39 within a suitable recess 42 provided therein, so that the brush bristles 40 are disposed against the adjacent surface of the brush-holding section opposite the notch 29. The brush bristles 40 are preferably of such length that they will extend a selected distance beyond the free longitudinal edge of the respective brush- -'holding'section 16 or 18. The free longitudinal edge of each brush-holding section 16 and 18 is further beveled from the edge 32 toward the brush bristles 40,.as at 44.

Operation x In operation the device 10 is manually grasped by the I handle portion 20 and the brush bristles 40 are dipped into a container or supply of paint, not shown. Since the brush bristles are relatively short and therefore are ,easily overloaded with paintif dipped too deeply, I have found that a shallow receptacle is preferred for holding the supply of paint. Care should be exercised in dipping the bristles 40 into the supply of paint so that the brushholding sections 16 and 18 do not become coated with paint. The paint loaded device may now be used for painting a wall surface 46 adjacent its juncture with a contiguous surface such as a ceiling 48 by placing the surface of the central body portion 26 in flat face to face contact with the ceiling and with the free ends of the bristles 40 in contact with the wall 46 and manually drawing the device 10 longitudinally along the juncture of An examination of Fig. 5 reveals that the plane of the body portion 26, the beveled guide surfaces 28 and the edges 32 simultaneously contact the ceiling 4Bduring the painting operation. It may thusibe seen that'the beveled surface 44 spaces the bristles 40 away from the ceiling 48 and that the notch 29 provides a secondopening or space between the edge 32 and the guiding surfaces 26 and 28, which precludes the possibility of paint being drawn into contact with the surface of the ceiling by capillary attraction. This paintjacent the contiguous surface which is not desired to be painted. Thereafter a brush of substantially greater width than those of the device 10 may be used in a conventional manner to finish the painting of the surface outlined by the device 10.

It is frequently desirable to paint walls with a roller applicator which cannot conveniently be used in close proximity with adjacent surfaces without getting unwanted paint on the latter. Therefore the device 10 includes a paint roller means. 59 which co-operates with the brush means 34 in paint applying overlapping relation for applying a transversely wider strip of paint to the desired surface. The roller means 50; comprises a conventional lambs wool covered cylindrical roller 52 of relatively short length which is axially connected centrally to the central body portion 26 on that side .opposite the surface contacting side. .One .end portion of the bore of the roller .52 'isjournaled by a centrally boredstubaxle 54 which projects laterally of the body 12, and which includes an annular shoulder 56 against which the roller rides for holding the adjacent side surface 58 of the roller in spaced relation with respect to the body 12. A removable axle 60 journals substantially all of the remaining portion of the roller bore and is held in axial alignment with respect to the stub axle 54 by a screw 62 extending through the stub axle and threadedly engaged with a bore in the axle'160. The axle 60 is provided with an annular flange 64 for contacting the outwardly disposed surface 66 of the roller and maintaining the latter in contact with the flanged shoulder 56. The free end portion of the axle 60 is transversely flattened as at 68 (Fig. 1) so that the same may be grasped manually for preventing rotation of the axle 60 while tightening the screw 62. As shown in Figs. 2, '3 and 4 a peripheral portion of the roller 52 contacts the plane defined by the ends of the brush bristles as the device is moved longitudinally. The periphery of the roller is loaded withpaint simultaneously with the brush paint loading operation by simply drawing the device longitudinally along the surface of the container containing the paint supply. Figs. 4 and 5 clearly illustrate how the roller 52 co-operates in overlapping relation with the brushes 34 when painting one surface adjacent a second wall or surface on which paint is not desired.

While painting a wall adjacent a ceiling has been illustrated and described it is to be understood that the device 10 may be used to an equal advantage for painting vertical corner surfaces, mouldings and the like, and under many other situations.

Obviously the invention is susceptible to some change or alteration without defeating its practicability, and I therefore do'not wish to be confined to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings and described herein, further than I am limited by the scope of the ap-' pended claims.

I claim: 1

i l. A paint applicator, comprising: a body having a substantially planar rectangular central portion; a handle carried by said body and projecting laterally of one longitudinal edge thereof, the longitudinal opposite edge of said body having recesses defining a brush-holding portion at each end of said body; and paint brushes connected to said brush-holding portions on one side of said body, each said longitudinal side edge portion opposite said brush-holding portion having an aligned beveled guide surface inclined toward the free ends of the bristles of each respective said paint .brush, each said brushholding portion having a recess extending between its ends in that surface opposite the respective said paint brush.

2. A paint applicator, comprising: a body having a substantially planar rectangular central portion; a bandle carried by said body and projecting laterally of one longitudinal edge thereof in off-set relation with respect to the plane of said body, the longitudinal edge of said body opposite said handle having recesses defining a brush-holding portion at each end of said body, each said longitudinal side edge portion opposite said brushholding portion having a beveled guide surface inclined toward its free edge; and paint brushes connected to said brush-holding portions on the side opposite said beveled guide surface, the bristles of each said paint brush contacting and projecting beyond the free edge of each brush-holding portion opposite. said handle, each said brush-holding portion having an elongated recess extending between its ends, parallel with the beveled guide surface, in that surface opposite the respective said paint brush.

3. A paint applicator, comprising: a body having substantially planar rectangular central portion; a handle carried by said body and projecting laterally of one longitudinal edge thereof in ofi-set relation with respect to the plane of said body, the longitudinal edge of said 1 0 PP SiE said handle having recesses defining an elongated brush-holding portion at each end of said body, each said longitudinal side edge portion opposite said brush-holding portion having a beveled guide surface inclined toward its free edge; and a paint brush connected to each said brush-holding portion on the side opposite said beveled guide surface, the bristles of each said paint brush contacting and projecting beyond the free edge of each said brush-holding portion, each said brush-holding portion having an elongated recess extending between its ends, parallel with the beveled guide surface, in that surface opposite the respective said paint brush.

4. A paint applicator, comprising: a body having a substantially planar rectangular central portion; a handle carried by said body and projecting laterally of one longitudinal edge thereof in off-set relation with respect to the plane of said body, the longitudinal edge of said body opposite said handle having recesses defining an elongated brush-holding portion at each end of said body, each said longitudinal side edge portion opposite said brush-holding portion having a beveled guide surface inclined toward its free edge for selectively contacting a ceiling and wall in co-operation with the adjacent side of said body and disposing said handle in spaced relation with respect to the selected ceiling or wall; and a paint brush connected to each said brush-holding portion on the side opposite said beveled guide surface, the bristles of each said paint brush contacting the free edge of each said brush-holding portion opposite said handle and projecting therebeyond into the plane defined by said beveled guide surfaces, each said brushholding portion having an elongated recess extending between its ends, parallel with the beveled guide surface, in that surface opposite the respective said paint brush.

5. A paint applicator, comprising: a body having a substantially planar rectangular central portion and one surface adapted for selectively contacting a ceiling and wall; a handle carried by one longitudinal side edge of said body and projecting laterally thereof in off-set relation with respect to the plane of the contacting surface, the longitudinal edge of said body opposite said handle having recesses defining an elongated brush-holding por tion at each end of said body, each said longitudinal side edge portion opposite said brush-holding portion having a beveled guide surface inclined toward its free edge and lying in the same plane with respect to the surface contacting side of said body; a paint brush secured to each said brush-holding portion on the side opposite said beveled guide surface, the bristles of each said paint brush contacting the free edge of each said brush-holding portion opposite said handle and projecting therebeyond into the plane defined by said beveled guide surfaces; and a paint roller having a transverse width substantially greater than the transverse width of the bristle portion of each of said paint brushes carried by the side of said body opposite the surface contacting side and between said paint brushes on an axis perpen- 6 dicular to the plane of the body, forming a rolling support overlapping the path of said paint brushes and co-operating therewith in applying a single swath of paint to the surface perpendicular with respect to a contiguous surface.

6. A paint applicator, comprising: a body having a substantially planar rectangular central portion and recesses in one longitudinal edge of the body defining a brush-holding portion at each end of the body, each brushholding portion and the longitudinal side edge portion of the body opposite the recesses being off-set laterally of the body to lie in parallel planes angularly disposed with respect to the plane of the medial portion of the body, one side surface of the medial portion of the body forming a guide surface, each said longitudinal side edge portion opposite said brush-holding portion having a beveled surface lying in the same plane with respect to the guiding surface of said body; a paint brush removably secured to the side of each respective said brushholding portion on that side opposite said beveled guide surface, the bristles of each said paint brush contacting the adjacent side of the respective said brush-holding portions and projecting therebeyond into the plane defined by said guide surfaces; and a painting roller having a transverse width substantially greater than the transverse width of the bristle portion of each of said paint brushes carried by the side of said body opposite the guide surfaces and between said paint brushes on an axis perpendicular to the plane of the guiding surface of said body, the periphery of said painting roller forming a rolling support overlapping the path of said paint brushes and co-operating therewith in applying a single swath of paint to a surface perpendicular with respect to a contiguous surface.

7. A paint applicator, comprising: a body having a substantially planar rectangular central portion; a handle carried by said body and projecting laterally of one longitudinal edge thereof, the other and opposite longitudinal edge of said body having recesses therein for defining a brush-holding portion adjacent each end of said body; and paint brushes connected with said brushholding portions on one side thereof, each said longitudinal side edge portion opposite said brush-holding por tion having a beveled guide surface inclined toward the free ends of the bristles of each respective paint brush, each said brush-holding portion having an elongated recess extending between its ends, parallel with the beveled guide surface, in that surface opposite the respective said paint brush.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Nov. 3, 1954 

